Acts 6:1

Acts 6:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
• New International Version (NIV)In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

Context of Acts 6:1

At that time, more and more people became disciples of Jesus. Among the believers, some were Jews who spoke the Greek language. Others were Jews who spoke the Aramaic language. The Jews who spoke Greek had a problem with the other Jews. They said, ‘The widows in our group do not receive the right help. Each day, when you give out the food and money, our widows receive less than they should get.’ 2The 12 apostles heard about the problem. They told all the believers to meet together with them. The apostles said, ‘Our work is to teach people God's message about Jesus. We do not have time to give out the food and money to people as well. 3So, friends, please choose seven men from among you. You must know that each of them is full of the Holy Spirit. They must also be very wise. We will ask these seven men to do this work for us.

Acts 6:1 word by word

Ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις πληθυνόντων τῶν μαθητῶν ἐγένετο γογγυσμὸς τῶν Ἑλληνιστῶν πρὸς τοὺς Ἑβραίους, ὅτι παρεθεωροῦντο ἐν τῇ διακονίᾳ τῇ καθημερινῇ αἱ χῆραι αὐτῶν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• thoseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• daysἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
• when the numberπληθύνωplēthunō · to multiplyG4129
• of the disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• there aroseγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• a murmuringγογγυσμόςgoggusmos · murmuringG1112
• of the GreciansἙλληνιστήςHellēnistēs · HellenistG1675
• againstπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• the HebrewsἙβραῖοςHebraios · HebrewG1445
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• widowsχήραchēra · widowG5503
• were neglectedπαραθεωρέωparatheōreō · to neglectG3865
• the dailyκαθημερινόςkathēmerinos · dailyG2522
• ministrationδιακονίαdiakonia · serviceG1248

Cross-references for Acts 6:1

• Acts 6:7So more and more people heard the message from God. The number of people in Jerusalem who believed in Jesus grew more and more. Many of the Jewish priests also believed the message about Jesus.
• Acts 2:41Many of the people who listened to Peter believed his message. So the apostles baptized those people. About three thousand people who now believed in Jesus joined the group that same day.
• Acts 4:4But many of the people who had heard Peter's message believed what he said. There were now about 5,000 men who believed in Jesus.
• Acts 5:14More and more people became believers and they joined the group. So now many men and women believed in the Lord Jesus.
• Psalms 72:16May there always be plenty of grain that grows in the land. May the crops grow well on the tops of the mountains. May the fruit trees give a lot of fruit, as they do in Lebanon. May all the crops grow well, like grass that grows in a field.
• Psalms 110:3When you go to fight your enemies, your people will be happy to fight beside you. As the sun rises on the day of battle, your young men will be there, on the hills round Zion.
• Isaiah 27:6The time will come when Jacob will grow well, like a strong plant in the ground. Yes, Israel will make flowers and branches. Their fruit will fill all the world.
• Jeremiah 30:19In those places you will hear happy songs, as people thank God. People will laugh aloud because they are so happy. I will make them grow in number. Their descendants will be many. I will cause other nations to give them honour. They will no longer insult my people.
• 1 Corinthians 10:10Do not complain against God. Some of our ancestors spoke like that, and God sent an angel of death to kill them.
• Hebrews 13:1Continue to love each other like brothers and sisters.
• James 4:5The Bible says, ‘God has caused his Spirit to live in us. He wants very much to keep us for himself.’ Do you think that is not true?
• James 5:9My Christian friends, do not complain against each other. If you do, God will punish you. So be careful! He is the Judge and he is ready now to judge people.
• Acts 9:29Saul also talked with the Jews who spoke the Greek language. He argued with them about Jesus. As a result, they wanted to kill him.
• Acts 11:20Some of the believers were people who came from Cyprus and Cyrene. These men went to Antioch. There they told God's message to Gentiles, as well as to Jews. They told everyone the good news about the Lord Jesus.
• 2 Corinthians 11:22Are they proud that they are Hebrew people? So am I. Do they belong to Israel's people? So do I. Are they descendants of Abraham's family? So am I.
• Philippians 3:5I belong to Israel's people, to Benjamin's tribe. I am a true Jew. They circumcised me when I was eight days old. I was a Pharisee, and I obeyed the Jewish rules very carefully.

Commentaries on Acts 6:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1A murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews - Those who are here termed Grecians, , or Hellenists, were Jews who sojourned now at Jerusalem, but lived in countries where the Greek language was spoken, and probably in general knew no other. They are distinguished here from those called Hebrews, by which we are to understand native Jews, who spoke what was then termed the Hebrew language, a sort of Chaldaio-Syriac. It has been remarked that Greek words…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1In those days … - The first part of this chapter contains an account of the appointment of “deacons.” It may be asked, perhaps, why the apostles did not appoint these officers at the first organization of the church? To this, question we may reply, that it was better to defer the appointment until an occasion should occur when it would appear to be manifestly necessary and proper. When the church was small, its alms could be distributed by the apostles…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The appointment of deacons. (1-7) Stephen falsely accused of blasphemy. (8-15) Verses 1-7 Hitherto the disciples had been of one accord; this often had been noticed to their honour; but now they were multiplied, they began to murmur. The word of God was enough to take up all the thoughts, cares, and time of the apostles. The persons chosen to serve tables must be duly qualified. They must be filled with gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, necessary to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1the Grecian Jews: The Greek-speaking Christians were Jewish Christians from other parts of the Greek and Roman world. They likely followed some Greek customs. The Hebrew-speaking Christians were more traditional Jews from Palestine. They spoke Hebrew or Aramaic and avoided Greek customs. their widows were being overlooked: This injustice threatened the church's growth and development. Overlooking needs from one group caused frustration and required an…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-71. the Grecians--the Greek-speaking Jews, mostly born in the provinces. the Hebrews--those Jews born in Palestine who used their native tongue, and were wont to look down on the "Grecians" as an inferior class. were neglected--"overlooked" by those whom the apostles employed, and who were probably of the Hebrew class, as being the most numerous. The complaint was in all likelihood well founded, though we cannot suspect the distributors of intentional…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 6:1

• Alms
• Beneficence
• Deacon
• Hebrew
• Poor

In the dictionaries

• Catch
• Deacon
• Grecians
• Hebrew
• Hebrews
• Honest
• Ministration
• Nicanor
• Poor
• Stephen

Commentaries on Acts 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings